N.y. Grand Jury Indicts Five In Police Torture Scandal

May 3, 1985|New York Daily News

NEW YORK — A police lieutenant, a sergeant and three police officers pleaded innocent Thursday to eight indictments charging them with assault, conspiracy, coercion and possession of unlawful weapons stemming from their alleged roles in the ``Torture Precinct`` scandal.

The indictments resulted from a two-week probe by Queens District Attorney John Santucci of charges by five men that they had been tortured with electric stun guns during interrogations by narcotics police in the 106th Precinct station house in Queens.

All five, who were suspended without pay last week, were released in their own recognizance following an afternoon arraignment on the charges before Queens Supreme Court Justice John T. Gallagher. The defendants were directed to return to court June 25.

The indictments unsealed Thursday contain a total of 29 counts of crimes ranging from misdemeanors that carry a maximum penalty of one year in jail to felonies carrying maximum penalties of seven years in prison.

Santucci said the acts ascribed to the five cops were ``appalling,`` but stressed that they were ``an aberration`` and not reflective of the vast majority of the city`s 27,000 police officers.

``It should not be construed as an indictment of the Police Department,`` Santucci said during a joint press conference with Police Commisioner Benjamin Ward.

Ward said the five were charged with ``horrible`` crimes, and he urged that they be treated like ``we treat other prisoners.``

Lawyers for the accused denied the charges of torture and brutality.

``It would disturb me as well if it were true,`` said Joseph Fallek, who represents Pike, during the arraignment. ``References have been made to my client as `the prince of pain,` and it upsets me these fabrications should appear in the media, and they are false and without merit.``

Cheswick, the lieutenant, was the integrity control officer of the 106th Precinct, while the others all were members of a narcotics unit, the Street Narcotics Abatement Unit (SNAP). The unit had been set up by the 106th Precinct`s commanding officer, Capt. Allen Haughton, without proper authorization from superiors in the Queens Borough Patrol command or Police Headquarters.